The leg bar, also called a leg lock, is a submission hold used against an opponent in some styles of mixed martial arts. The leg bar aims to lock the joints of the leg, including the ankle and knee of your opponent, using your body as leverage. Several types of leg bars exist, such as the straight ankle lock, which is a standard move that hyperextends the foot and applies unpleasant pressure to the Achilles tendon, to submit your opponent. Some sports ban the use of leg bars. However, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts (MMA) and submission grappling allow this submission maneuver when performed correctly, according to Grappling Magazine.

Step 1

Get your opponent face down, in the middle of the competitor’s ring so your opponent cannot touch any of the ropes, forcing you to break your hold.

Step 2

Grab his right leg and loop your left arm under his foot and grasp your right wrist tightly to complete the loop. Your forearm should remain flat against your opponent’s Achilles tendon.

Step 3

Apply pressure to the tendon where it attaches to the heel using the boniest part of your forearm. This is called the Achilles compression move. Keep your hands close to your chest over your thorax to maintain a strong hold on your opponent to prevent escape.

Step 4

Tuck your opponent’s toes under your armpit. Squeeze your left elbow close to your chest to prevent your opponent’s escape. As you apply pressure to the Achilles tendon, you will simultaneously lean back to hyperextend his foot, pushing it away from your body to increase pressure in your opponent’s ankle joint. Hyperextending your opponent’s foot stretches the muscles and tendons on the top of his foot. This is the second part of the ankle lock, which is a key component of the leg bar.

Step 5

Release your opponent when he taps you, indicating submission.

References

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Tina Boyle has been writing since 2000. Trained as a journalist, she has traveled to over 150 US cities. She specializes in travel, culture, pets, business and social networking and regularly publishes in newspapers, magazines and on Web sites. She received a Bachelor of Arts in writing from the College of Santa Fe.